Fourteen Chinese cities, provinces raise minimum wage

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Fourteen provinces and major cities in China have raised the minimum wage so far this year, underscoring rising labour costs in spite of the country’s slowing economy.

Shenzhen and Shanghai have increased their minimum wages to more than 2,000 yuan (HK$2,500) per month, the highest rises so far this year.

Shenzhen in southern Guangdong province has set the highest monthly minimum wage at 2,030 yuan, the China News Service reported. Its minimum wage was 1,808 yuan in 2014. The standard minimum wage in Guangdong province is set at 1,895 yuan, the third highest among the 14 regions which have increased their rates.

Shanghai raised the minimum wage from April to 2,020 yuan per month.

Beijing ranks fifth highest among the 14 with a standard minimum wage of 1,720 yuan per month, neighbouring Tianjin pays at least 1,850 yuan a month.

The capital has set the highest hourly minimum wage at 18.70 yuan, while Shanghai and Tianjin are in second place with pay of 18.50 yuan an hour, the report said.

Hainan province has raised the basic minimum wage to 1,270 yuan a month, the lowest among the 14 cities and provinces.

Hunan province, which also increased its minimum wage in January, has set the standard at 1,390 yuan, the second lowest among the 14. Third lowest is Tibet, at 1,400 yuan a month.

The southwestern province of Sichuan and the Inner Mongolia region are the latest to increase basic set levels of pay.

Inner Mongolia’s minimum wage is set at 1,640 yuan a month and Sichuan’s at 1,500 yuan.

The northeastern province of Heilongjiang has not adjusted its minimum wage for more than two years, despite the country’s requirement to review the issue every two years.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said 19 regions raised their minimum wage last year.

Despite slowing economic growth in China, there was no substantial fall in the number of regions that had increased their minimum wage standards so far this year, the report said.